September 2011
September Headlines
Study: 22 Million American Use Illegal Drugs
More than 22 million Americans age 12 and older – nearly 9% of the U.S. population – use illegal drugs, according to the government’s 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. more>
Survey Finds 14% of New Yorkers Smoke
Just 14 percent of New York City adults said they were smokers in 2010, the lowest level since the city began tracking the smoking rate nearly two decades ago, according to a survey released on Thursday. more>
More Accidental Drug Poisoning of Children
The growing use of prescription drugs by adults, from pain relievers to sleep aids and heart medications, has led to an increase in accidental drug poisonings of children, new research shows. more>
Benzodiazepine Abuse Treatment Admissions Have Tripled from 1998 to 2008
A new national study shows that from 1998 to 2008 (the most recent year with available figures) substance abuse treatment admissions among those 12 and older related to the abuse of benzodiazepine drugs rose from 22,400 in 1998 to approximately 60,200 in 2008. more>
Heavy Drinking May Leave You Tipsy For Years
Wobbly walking and clumsy moves are classic signs that someone’s been drinking, and a new study suggests balance problems can afflict heavy drinkers for years after they sober up. more>
Substance Abuse Among the Elderly: A Growing Problem
In her early years, Eva would probably have been called a “teetotaler.” Except for an infrequent sip of wine on special occasions, she never drank alcoholic beverages. But after her children moved away and her husband and many of her close friends died, Eva turned to the bottle for escape and companionship. Now in her late 70s, Eva is an alcoholic. more>
For Seniors, Addiction Often Begins With Prescription Drugs
Failing to notify your doctor of all your medications. Using over-the-counter pills with prescriptions. And relying on pain killers can all lead to addiction. Approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population is 65 years old or older. Yet they constitute a third of the population using prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. more>
SAMHSA Assesses Recent Trends in Illicit Drug Use
The use of illicit drugs and alcohol remained similar between 2009 and 2010, but was higher than in 2008, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published Sept. 8 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the start of the 22nd annual National Recovery Month held in September in United States. more>
